Softball 6/9/2021 5:00:00 PM

Hope Creasy to Step Down as Radford Softball Head Coach

RADFORD, Va. – After four strong years leading Radford's softball team to finishes of .500 or better against Big South competition, head coach Hope Creasy has decided to step down as head coach.

"I am thankful that Robert and the administration provided me the opportunity and trusted me to lead this program that I love so much," Creasy said. "The game of softball has been great to me, as has Radford University. I will forever be grateful for the time I have had as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. The friendships forged, relationships built, lessons learned, and memories made will forever be a part of me and who I am."

The 2021 season presented many challenges as the softball team navigated plenty of trials through a loaded schedule of 54 games. The Highlanders finished the season strong winning six of their last nine games including winning a crucial regular season series finale against Winthrop for the final spot in the Big South tournament. Radford would go on to take down the third-seeded Lancers in the tournament before falling in the semifinals to USC Upstate.

"We wish Hope Creasy the very best of luck as she steps away from coaching," Director of Athletics Robert Lineburg said. "Hope will always be one of the greatest Highlander softball student-athletes to have ever played at Radford. She has also excelled as an assistant coach and as the head coach of the Highlanders. We hate to see Hope depart but I am certain she will have great success in any endeavor she chooses. She is a first-class person and has done a tremendous job as our head coach."

Since being announced as the ninth head coach of the Radford softball program in June 2017, Hope Creasy has brought in outstanding student-athletes that have experienced success both on and off the field.

Creasy's first season came in the spring of 2018 and since then she has coached five Big South All-Conference selections as well as four All-Academic honorees which included the 2020 and 2021 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. On the field she has accumulated a 96-88 record through three full seasons including the 2020 season which was shortened.

In her first season at the helm, she guided her hometown team to a 36-19 record which included a program best four straight wins to open the season. The 36 wins were second-most for a first-year head coach and three of those victories came against ACC foes and two Commonwealth rivals (Virginia and Virginia Tech). Radford would reach the Big South championship game that season after a thrilling 12-inning semifinal win over Longwood.

Year two at the helm presented more success for the Highlanders as they made another deep run in the Big South tournament making it to the quarterfinals after two wins over the third-seeded Campbell. The Highlanders offense slashed .282/.348/.416 during the season while slugging 43 home runs. The pitching also posted a strong 3.33 season ERA while striking out 193 batters with five shutouts.

Radford was off to a strong start in 2020 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Highlanders were 13-3 which was second-best in the conference.

Creasy's softball career has been rooted in the New River Valley ever since starting her collegiate career at Radford in 2006. She was a four-year starter for the program leading the Highlanders to back-to-back Big South regular-season and conference tournament titles in 2009 and 2010. As a senior in 2010 she was named Big South Woman of the Year, an NFCA first-team all-mid-atlantic region selection and an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-District second-team honoree. After coaching stints at Georgia Southern and Louisburg College, Creasy returned to Radford as an assistant coach in 2015 before being promoted to the head role in 2017.

"While I am still passionate about the game of softball, I am excited about this next chapter in my life," Creasy added. "There will be new challenges, goals, and milestones ahead of me all of which I will embrace and enjoy. I wish the program and athletic department continued success. As always, Go Highlanders!"

A national search for the program's next head coach will begin immediately.

Follow Softball on Social Media
For more information on the Radford softball team follow @RadfordSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Softball on Facebook.

Print Friendly Version